To Be Completely Known And All Forgiven

What lavish gifts you do bestow; With pride my eyes are all aswim. These tokens say you love me so; Beside that gift these gifts grow dim. You hasten to pull out the chair, Incline your head in secret awe Of pleasure knowing I am there, Oblivious of the ones who saw. You stoop to clear away the plate- Despising not the helpful task. In short you are the perfect mate: What more could any ingrate ask? I smile and know yet feel the pin Of conscience prick my quivering shame. I dropp my eyes lest there within You'll see the thing I dare not name- The tattered, timeworn, fragile moth That fears yet beats against the flame, The insecure and childish self That surface words cannot explain. I'd give each jewel - each shining stone, Relinquish this grand mansion fine To live in a much humbler home If you but knew this wish of mine: To take the thoughts I dare to dream, And lay them out before your eyes, And know I'll not lose your esteem, And know that you will not despise The wanderings of my burdened heart, And not call foolish, foolish fears, And not tear foolish dreams apart, And let me shed the unshed tears; To bare the secret self within In your safe understanding arms; To share the person that I am And know you'll keep me from all harms.